United v Arsenal – All you need to know

Here is an in-depth look at tomorrow’s FA Cup clash between Manchester United and Arsenal:

PREVIOUS MEETING:

22/11/14 (Premier League)

Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United (Giroud 90 – Gibbs 56 (og), Rooney 85)

Arsenal were dominant throughout but failed to put United to the sword. For all of their possession and attacking play, Arsenal were the ones who conceded first after Antonio Valencia low cross was inadvertently put in the back of the net by Kieran Gibbs.

Arsenal started the second half as they did the first but could not find a way through. They fought hard to get back into the game but were sucker punched five minutes from time from a classic United counter – Wayne Rooney tucked home United’s second of the game and killed it off.

Olivier Giroud marked his return from injury by smashing home from distance past David de Gea.

Unfortunately time ran out for the Gunners to get anything from the game – if only they took their chances.

ARSENAL STARTING XI: Szczesny (Martinez 59), Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Wilshere (Cazorla 55), Ramsey (Giroud 76), Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Welbeck

MANCHESTER UNITED STARTING XI: De Gea, Smalling, McNair, Shaw (Young 16 – Fletcher 89) , Blackett, Fellaini, Valencia, Carrick, Di Maria, Van Persie (Wilson 75), Rooney

ATTENDANCE: 60,074

FORM GUIDE (LAST SIX GAMES):

Arsenal: WLWWWW

Manchester United: DWWLWW

WHO WE’D LIKE TO SIGN:

Angel Di Maria. Despite not doing it for United this season, the Argentine is world class. We could do with someone like him wreaking havoc down the wings and creating.

WHO TO BOO:

Robin van Persie, for obvious reasons

MAN IN THE MIDDLE:

Michael Oliver. The 30-year-old has officiated 20 games so far this season (two of Arsenal’s and two of United’s), issuing 71 yellow and five red cards to date.

LIKELY LINE-UPS:

UNITED:

De Gea

Evans         Jones         Smalling

Valencia                                                          Young

Blind         Fellaini

Di Maria          Mata

Rooney

ARSENAL:

Szczesny

Chambers         Mertesacker        Koscielny         Gibbs

Coquelin         Cazorla

Ozil

Sanchez                              Chamberlain

Giroud

PREDICTION:

Arsenal have enough about them to beat this unimpressive United side, but looked what happened in November. We always seem to freeze when we play our old title rivals and can see us taking them back to the Emirates. 1-1.